IFL Week 5 Picks
- Trey
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
We made it to Friday, folks. Nicely done yet again. You showed that work week who's boss and we are being rewarded with a TREMENDOUS slate of IFL action ahead of us.
But before we get into this week's picks, let's review how last week went down and how Iowa made me lose a part of mind last Saturday night.
IFL Week 4 Review
Tucson ML - Winner
Tucson wins 45-40
GB-Iowa Under 88.5 - Loser
Combined for 89 points in the most sickening back door cover I've ever experienced
QC-ORL Over 79.5 - Winner
Combined for 95 points
AZ-FIS Over 81.5 - Winner
Combined for 105 points, hit the total w/ 3 min left in the 3rd
3-1 in a week that SHOULD HAVE BEEN a sweep if not for one of the most vile, heinous acts of covering a point total I have ever seen. But we're getting into a rhythm nonetheless.
We're starting to see the board and envision success with each chapter of the 2026 Indoor War that passes. But we've got our tallest task of the season heading into Week 5..
A FULL SEVEN GAME SLATE. THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! THIS IS WHERE WE SEPARATE THE INDOOR WARRIORS FROM THE HATERS AND LOSERS (of which there are many).
It's time to crank up the newest Bilmuri album and let the hogs loose. LET'S FIND SOME WINNERS!
2026 IFL Record: 9-5
Northern Arizona Wranglers @ New Mexico Chupacabras (Saturday 4/11 @ 6:00PM ET)
The Play: Under 83.5
This was the hardest game of the week to pick for me. NAZ is coming off of a game vs Jacksonville where they looked totally disjointed on offense, where it seemed like the QB & WRs were running entirely different plays at times.
New Mexico, on the other hand, has been in two tightly contested games that they were in the mix for DESPITE some of the self inflicted wounds along the way. This one has a struggling offense vs a team facing severe depth issues on the line of scrimmage, which is usually not a favorable recipe for a lot of points. This one might turn into a mud-slinging fist fight in Albuquerque.
Prediction: 38-36 New Mexico
Iowa Barnstormers @ Fishers Freight (Saturday 4/11 @ 7:00PM ET)
The Play: Under 91.5
This total feels like a massive overcorrection by the books in response to last week's throttling of the Rattlers at the hands of the Freight, where they put up 63 points and scored at will against a pretty good Arizona team.
But when you look at last week's game, Fishers controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and methodically worked their way down the field, while Arizona got big chunk plays that led to their scores.
It wouldn't surprise me to see more of the same from Fishers in this one, but I don't have the confidence in this Iowa offense to execute the same big chunk plays for their touchdowns, which would in turn result in longer drives and less possessions for each team. Iowa needs to control more of the ball in this one to have a fighting chance in this one and I think we see a heavy dosage of Nasjzae Bryant-Lelei to try to keep that white hot Freight offense off the field.
Prediction: 46-38 Fishers
Green Bay Blizzard @ Quad City Steamwheelers (Saturday 4/11 @ 8:00PM ET)
The Play: Quad City ML +124
It may only be Week 5, but this is a Must Win game for Quad City at home. Historically over the past few years, Quad City has been a MUCH better team at home in Moline than on the road during the regular season:
Home record since 2023 - 18-6
Away record since 2023 - 11-15
Green Bay enters the game riding high at 3-0 and looking great on both sides of the ball, but has shown that they have struggled in the 3rd quarter in each of their games so far this season. If Quad City can keep this one close or even get ahead early at halftime, that can play into their favor put themselves right back in the mix in the Eastern Conference.
The difference between 2-2 and 1-3 is staggering and it's time for Quad City's talent to pull out their first statement win of the season. Gimme the Quad City Homedogs.
Prediction: 47-39 Quad City
San Antonio Gunslingers @ Arizona Rattlers (Saturday 4/11 @ 9:00PM ET)
The Play: Arizona -7.5
Arizona got absolutely manhandled last weekend in Fishers, which is terrible news for the visiting San Antonio Gunslingers that are looking to find their footing this season.
Max Meylor looked good in the game vs Fishers, but ultimately the Arizona defense got steamrolled by the Freight offense and put them in a nearly unwinnable position. But fortunately for the Rattlers, this Gunslingers team is not quite in the same realm as the Freight.
Gunslingers have had issues getting started on offense the past two seasons and it appears they are encountering similar issues under first year head coach Jonathan Bane. This seems ripe for a bounce back game from the Arizona Fighting Kevin Guys, so give me the snakes to cover.
Prediction: 49-36 Arizona
San Diego Strike Force @ Tucson Sugar Skulls (Saturday 4/11 @ 10:00PM ET)
The Play: San Diego ML
To put it kindly, San Diego has underperformed so far this season. They very nearly blew the season opener against NAZ and simply laid an egg in the second half against the Arizona Rattlers behind some avoidable self inflicted wounds.
But this seems like a perfect 'get right' spot for them to get back on track.
This Tucson defense has playmaking ability in the secondary, but has been susceptible to big plays through the air at the same time. San Diego QB Nate Davis gets the ball out quickly and RB Ed Vander has been a great equalizer to make teams have to account for the running game. I think Tucson can make this one very interesting, but I think San Diego has too much talent on offense to not come away with the win in this one. Strike Force in a one score game.
Prediction: 48-41 San Diego
Tulsa Oilers @ Orlando Pirates (Sunday 4/12 @ 4:00PM ET)
The Play: Tulsa +1.5
For the second game this season, the Tulsa Oilers are 1.5 point underdogs on the road. The Tulsa offense looked good in their season opener in terms of moving the ball down the field, but just ran into some issues punching it from the red zone. The Pirates have had some slow starts on offense vs New Mexico & Quad City and they'll be going up against a Tulsa defense that looked very stingy against San Antonio.
QB TJ Edwards looked good through the air and had pretty good protection in the pocket, but I would expect to see more impact on the ground in this one. Orlando's defense has look great, but will have yet another former IFL MVP to deal with this upcoming weekend.
Another week where you get TJ Edwards as an underdog, I'll take it.
Prediction: 44-39 Tulsa
Jacksonville Sharks @ Vegas Knight Hawks (Sunday 4/12 @ 7:30PM ET)
The Play: Over 86.5
The best game of the week on Sunday night? Oh boy oh boy OH BOY.
Vegas is coming off of a bye week and a wildly impressive offensive showing in Tucson where they scored a touchdown every three plays and looked like the juggernauts we thought they could be heading into the season. Jacksonville will be making their second straight road trip out west after looking impressive on offense in their season opener against NAZ, despite some 'week one hiccups' they experienced during the game. QB James Cahoon was able to push the ball deep and RB Jimmie Robinson was able to get things going on the ground.
I think we're in for a shootout that can easily break 100+, so let's just sit back and enjoy the fireworks, shall we?
Prediction: 56-50 Vegas
Are you riding or fading? What are your favorite plays this week? Follow Off The Wall on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok & BlueSky and let me know!